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Duty

duty n

pl:du·ties [Anglo-French deuté indebtedness, obligation, from deu owing, due, from Old French see due ]1: tasks, service, or functions that arise from one's position [performing a police officer's duties] ;also: a period of being on duty see also jury duty2: an obligation assumed (as by contract) or imposed by law to conduct oneself in conformance with a certain standard or to act in a particular way [ of good faith] [a to warn of danger] see also public duty doctrine, special duty doctrine

duty of can·dor [-kan-dər]: a duty obligating directors of a corporation to disclose all material facts known to them about a transaction when they are seeking shareholder approval

duty of care: a duty to use due care toward others in order to protect them from unnecessary risk of harm

duty of fair representation: a duty obligating a labor union to represent the employees in its collective bargaining unit fairly and in good faith

duty of loy·al·ty: a duty obligating directors of a corporation to refrain from using their positions to further their own interests rather than the interests of the shareholders (as by self-dealing or fraud)

fiduciary duty: a duty obligating a fiduciary (as an agent or trustee) to act with loyalty and honesty and in a manner consistent with the best interests of the beneficiary of the fiduciary relationship (as a principal or trust beneficiary) 3:tax ;esp: a tax on imports off duty: not engaged in a duty [a police officer who is off duty]